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Writer's pictureMelo Acuna

Philippine Red Cross tests to reach 12,000 a day

Philippine Red Cross to do 12,000 tests a day

MANILA – The Department of Health accredited yesterday the Philippine Red Cross’ bio-molecular laboratory in Port Area, this city as a certified COVID-19 testing center.

Senator Richard J. Gordon, PRC chairman and CEO said the Department of Health has accredited their third laboratory as it passed the proficiency test conducted by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine.

“I am glad out bio-molecular laboratory in Manila has been accredited. Now we can do more tests because the more people we test, the better chances we have of preventing the further spread of the disease. The focus must be victory over the virus. That’s why we have to test, test and test, to unmask the invisible enemy,” he said in a statement released to the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) Saturday afternoon.

The PRC has the distinction of being the only national society with a bio-molecular laboratory system. It has opened two testing centers both equipped with polymerase chain machines that can run up to a total of 8,000 tests a day.

The three testing centers are equipped with four PCR machines that are also capable of processing up to a total of 4,000 tests a day.

He added they are set to open four other testing centers in Subic, Clark, Batangas and Los Baños within the best few weeks.

“After experiencing labor pains, the first two laboratories are close to hitting the 8,000 tests a day target,” he added.

During the past two weeks they have seen the gradual increase in the number of tests completed each day and shortly before midnight Friday, Senator Gordon said they reached their 8,000 target.

He credited the PRC staff and volunteers for their dedication to duty. (Melo M. Acuña)

Philippine Red Cross Chairman/CEO and Senator Richard J. Gordon. (File Photo/Melo M. Acuna)

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